I am lookingforward to hosting a business seminar in Launceston this week where Tasmaniansuccess story Forager Foods will share how a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) helpedboost its sales into China.
John Ranicar,Managing Director of Forager Foods, will join representatives from Austrade,the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusIndustry and Tradestart tooffer practical export advice to attendees.
The session willcover Australia's recently signed Peru-Australia FTA and the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP-11), as well asagreements Australia has signed with China, Japan and Korea.
FTAs areproviding significant and ongoing advantages for Australian goods and servicesin markets that comprise a significant proportion of the global economy.
Tariffs on driedfruit products exported by Foragers to China, for example, previously attracteda 25 per cent duty.
Since theChina-Australia Free Trade Agreement entered into force, this has dropped to 5per cent, and it will fall to zero on 1 January 2019.
Australia's FTAsreduce barriers to trade over time, making markets more accessible for ourexporters.
The freeseminar, from 2pm on Tuesday 31 July at Peppers Silo Hotel, Invermay, is partof a series run by Austrade and DFAT across Australia to help businesses useFTAs to grow their markets. Since March 2015, over 100 FTA seminars have beendelivered in urban and regional centres around the country.
Launcestonbusinesses, including many small and medium-sized enterprises and companies whoare considering taking their products or services to an overseas market for thefirst time, are well placed to exploit the opportunities provided by FTAs.
Formore information about the FTA seminars, call Austrade on 13 28 78 oremail fta@austrade.gov.au.